Lok Sabha Election in Chennai South: Here Are Issues Voters in This Tamil Nadu Phase-1 Seat May Weigh to Pick Their MP

Chennai South Lok Sabha constituency is a general category parliamentary seat in Tamil Nadu, which covers parts of the Chennai and Kancheepuram districts. It includes six assembly segments: Virugambakkam, Saidapet, T Nagar, Mylapore, Velachery, and Sholinganallur. The seat is almost entirely urban with 96 per cent of the population in urban areas. This seat is also one of the most densely populated seats in the state with a population of almost 20 lakh voters.

‘Sumathy’ Thamizhachi Thangapandian of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is the current MP of the constituency, preceded by Dr J Jayavardhan of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and Rajendra C, also from AIADMK.

The key candidates for the polls this time are J Jayavardhan of the AIADMK, DMK’s Thamizhachi Thangapandian, and Tamilisai Soundararajan from the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Chennai South will have polling on April 19 in the first round of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections.

Voting Pattern

1. Chennai South is one of the most populous constituencies in Tamil Nadu with over 1.8 million, mostly urban, voters. It generally swings between AIADMK and DMK and is currently held by DMK leader Thamizhachi Thangapandian. The BJP is the third major player here with high hopes. Another significant player is the Naan Tamil Katchi which will also attract a considerable chunk of the vote, especially first-time voters.
2. The DMK is the most dominant party in Chennai South. Out of the region’s six assembly segments, five went to the DMK in the 2021 assembly elections: Virugambakkam, Saidapet, T Nagar, Mylapore, and Sholinganallur. The Congress, also in alliance with the DMK, bagged the Velachery seat.
3. DMK’s MP Thamizhachi Thangapandian has been nominated for a rerun in this election. She joined the DMK over a decade ago, fulfilling a promise of a political career made by party patriarch M Karunanidhi. In 2019, she fought her first election and won from this seat with 50.17% of the vote and a winning margin of over 2.62 lakh votes.
4. Thangapandian is a well-known political face, known for academic writings in Dravidian literature. She is the daughter of the late V Thangapandian, a tall DMK leader in his time. She is also the sister of state finance minister Thangam Thennarasu.
5. Thangapandian is banking on the state government’s women-friendly scheme, the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai initiative, which offers Rs 1,000 per month to women heads of eligible households. With an allocation of Rs 7,000 crore in FY24, the scheme has garnered significant support from women across the state, boosting the DMK’s standing among female voters in the elections.
6. Another move that she hopes may help contain the anti-incumbency threat is the state government’s decision to provide a compensation of Rs 6,000 for each ration card following the damages incurred during the flooding last year.
7. Reviews on the present MP are a mixed bag and the DMK also faces anti-incumbency owing to its deficient flood management, say observers. Delayed progress Of the Metro project has also inconvenienced the people, and so have inconsistent and unplanned bouts of construction in the city.
8. Thangapandian is known for her articulation, staunch Dravidian ideology, and rapport with the people. However, observers say, of late, she has not been as accessible to the people and is not a grassroots leader. Personality alone may not suffice for her victory, as the DMK’s governance model will face scrutiny in this election.
9. With the anti-DMK votes split between the BJP and AIADMK, the DMK has an edge in Chennai South. The party is fighting in alliance with the Congress and Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Neethi Maiam, both of whom now have marginal presence in the constituency. In 2019, the MNM was fresh out of the oven and at its best when it secured a vote share of 12% which came to more than 1.35 lakh votes. Since then, however, the party has faced setbacks with its internal structure witnessing a collapse. This may have shrunk Kamal Haasan’s appeal; however, the MNM will remain a fruitful addition to the DMK alliance. Further, the DMK is also poised to bag a major chunk of the Muslim vote which forms 8.6% of the total voter population, while the Christian and Scheduled Caste votes will split between the AIADMK and the DMK. Ultimately, while DMK’s winning margin may narrow from the 2019 results, it is still expected to win the seat, say observers.
10. Chief minister MK Stalin is directly pitting himself against PM Modi’s political persona, attempting to turn the election into a personality clash. DMK is also making it clear that every vote for it in the state is a vote for Stalin. This strategy makes sense as Stalin is projecting himself as the flag-bearer of Dravidian politics, standing up to the BJP’s agenda, and it helps him combat the Prime Minister’s magnetism by attacking him directly. Stalin has accused the PM of treating states like “municipalities”, asserting the state’s “autonomy” and principles of federalism. He has often claimed that the Centre is not allocating enough funds to the state, and recently also accused the PM of lying on the issue of fund allocations. Stalin has even said that Tamil Nadu will never implement the Citizenship Amendment Act, rules for which were notified on March 11.
11. On the release of its manifesto, DMK MP Kanimozhi had said that it will help take DMK’s Dravidian model all over India, portraying the party’s national ambitions. At the core of the manifesto is DMK projecting a significant leadership position in the INDIA bloc, eyeing government formation in the Centre and promising that states will have more autonomy as a result. There are also some sweeping and controversial promises such as banning NEET and blocking implementation of CAA.
12. The AIADMK is the second biggest contender for the seat, with J Jayavardhan, who had been an MP in Chennai South between 2014 and 2019. In 2014, he had a vote share of 39% and a lead of 1.36 lakh votes against the DMK. However, in 2019, his position slipped to second place with almost 27% of the vote. Jayavardhan, a doctor from the fishermen community, is a well-known face in the constituency, famous for being an accessible, grassroots leader. He has remained visible in the constituency even in recent years and remains relevant to the political landscape in Chennai. However, the odds are stacked against him as the lack of an alliance with the BJP, which has fielded one of its strongest candidates from here, has further diminished his chances of a victory. Moreover, the AIADMK does not have any significant ally that may raise its share here. Therefore, while Jayavardhan attempts to turn the tide in his favour, a more realistic analysis unveils that there will be a tight contest between the BJP and the AIADMK for second place, say observers.
13. During his campaign, Jayavardhan has emphasised the importance of various projects like the restoration of Pallikaranai marshland and the Metro Rail. He has stated that he had advocated for these projects in Parliament, met with the relevant Union Ministers, and secured funding amounting to thousands of crores between 2014 and 2019. However, he alleged that his opponent, the DMK MP, had not adequately followed up or represented the constituency.
14. AIADMK aims to hold on to its Dravidian vote bank and is banking on its disassociation with the BJP. Interestingly, every time there has been a three-way contest between the DMK, AIADMK, and the BJP, the AIADMK emerged victorious thrice as seen in 1991, 2009, and 2014. Further, it relies majorly on anti-incumbency against the present MP to eat into the DMK’s vote share. The DMK faced an anti-incumbency wave soon after returning to power in 2021 during the Greater Chennai Corporation Council elections. In the Sholinganallur area, which is known as the IT hub, more AIADMK members were elected. Both Dravidian parties are relying on a significant voter base comprising thousands of families resettled from the city’s slums into the constituency. Currently, these residents feel disillusioned and deceived, as they have not received the promised facilities after relocation from the core city areas.
15. The AIADMK faces a solid threat from the BJP which may trigger a split in the anti-incumbency-driven vote, having fielded one of its biggest leaders from here. It does not have a strong alliance to bolster its fortunes. Moreover, there is a strong lack of a charismatic female leader in the party who could attract women voters away from the DMK.
16. With no alliance with the AIADMK, BJP has fielded one of its strongest and veteran leaders, Tamilisai Soundararajan, from here. Soundararajan has served as the state unit president, the governor of Telangana, and most recently as the lieutenant governor of Puducherry. However, despite being a popular grassroots leader with a long career in politics, she has lost in all her attempts to clinch a Lok Sabha or assembly seat till date. In 2019, she lost to DMK’s Kanimozhi from Thoothukudi by a heavy margin of more than 3 lakh votes.
17. Soundararajan is known for her deep understanding of state politics and is credited with popularising the party in the state. She is especially liked by women voters and has an impeccable record when it comes to public outreach. Some political analysts suggest that fielding her has been a bold choice by the BJP. Chennai South boasts the largest population of Brahmins among all Lok Sabha seats in the state, with Mylapore, T Nagar, and Velachery holding a considerable share of the Brahmin vote which traditionally goes to the NDA. Other upper castes may also lean towards the BJP. Moreover, Soundararajan is from the Nadar community, which holds considerable sway even in Chennai South and will lean towards her, say observers. However, it is not going to be an easy fight as the party is up against the two biggest Dravidian behemoths.
18. The Modi factor is prevalent in the seats of Mylapore, T Nagar, and Velachery, where upper caste voters and the larger elite lean strongly towards BJP. Interestingly, the constituency is also a hub for the ‘IT crowd’, encompassing areas that have witnessed remarkable growth over the past decade as part of the information technology (IT) corridor. This larger group of middle-class elite, which is relatively more receptive to national issues and the Modi factor, is expected to lean towards the BJP. Local issues such as flooding and bad traffic jams also put the BJP in a promising position among middle-class voters.
19. One of the strongest poll pitches of the BJP here is that while the nation grows under the Modi government, the DMK government is masking the effect of PM Modi’s welfare schemes and depriving the state of fast-paced infrastructure development. This has also resonated with many voters and fuelled anti-incumbency against the DMK. It remains to be seen whether the BJP can ultimately benefit from this sentiment.

Key Constituency Issues

Cyclones and Floods: Every year the people here are faced with the troubles brought about by cyclones and heavy rains. Intense showers and strong winds brought about by cyclones drown the city in metres of water, halting flight operations, marooning hundreds, and destroying infrastructure. Chennai South is deeply affected due to its low-lying geographical conditions. Manufacturing units, IT hubs, and infrastructure are badly affected. Last year, as Cyclone Michaung hit the city, auto component manufacturing units in Padi and MSMEs in Ambattur were most affected as they saw several feet of water. This also leads to electricity issues, loss of internet connectivity, loss of livelihood, as well as life. Many industry leaders such as Gopal Srinivasan, Chairman of TVS Capital Funds, have blamed poor city management for the havoc cyclones and intense rains wreak on the city.

Although cyclones and intense rains are natural phenomena that occur every year, no proper systems are in place to negate or at least minimise their impact. Activist M Ravi says that despite the construction of stormwater drains, the rainwater does not run off properly.

Katchatheevu Island Row: The BJP took a swing at the DMK recently by raising the Katchatheevu island issue in a big way by attempting to turn the prevalent DMK-dominated narrative on its head. The DMK, which has been writing letters to the Modi government to retrieve the island, now with Sri Lanka, was accused by the BJP of tacitly allowing the Nehru government’s decision in 1974 to relinquish the island to Sri Lanka, assigning no importance to the territory. This issue has fuelled the BJP’s campaign throughout the state, especially among the fishermen community who are a significant vote base of the DMK in Chennai South. The issue may even resonate among some middle-class, educated voters in the seat.

Roads: Residents of Chennai’s southern suburbs, including areas like Tambaram, Anakaputhur, Pammal, Chromepet, and Chitlapakkam, are grappling with the persistent issue of poorly maintained roads. Despite the Chennai Corporation having the financial capacity to improve roads within the city, the suburbs, governed by municipalities and panchayats with limited resources, suffer from inadequate infrastructure funding. Roads in Tambaram Corporation areas, particularly Anakaputhur and Pammal, require urgent repairs following the completion of underground drainage work. Temporary fixes on roads like Putheri Road have worsened the situation, causing further damage.

Newly paved roads in Anakaputhur have been dug up by some apartments for sewage disposal, causing frustration among residents. Numerous localities, including Pammal, Chromepet, Sembakkam, and Chitlapakkam, report damaged and neglected roads in need of relaying and repairs.

Even roads under the Highways Department, such as Chitlapakkam Main Road and Velachery Main Road, are in poor condition, causing inconvenience for both residents and motorists.

Traffic Congestion: With the opening of IT hubs in the city and the slow-paced construction of the Metro project going on for the last three years, traffic congestion has choked Chennai South. A one-kilometre stretch around Hindu Mission Hospital on GST Road in Tambaram, the southern entry point of the city, has become the place of one of the worst traffic snarls in recent years. Buses do not drop off and take up passengers from their designated spots, two-wheelers regularly use footpaths much to the nuisance of pedestrians, and traffic stops for 50-60 minutes.

On February 23, 2024, it was announced that senior officials of the state government have started exploring the feasibility of constructing link roads to connect existing bus routes maintained by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and the Highways Department in the city. Officials have proposed the construction of a link road connecting DGS Dhinakaran Salai and Durgabai Deshmukh Road near the Music College in the vicinity of the Adyar river to ease traffic congestion in the area.

Moreover, As Metro Rail work is underway in areas such as Santhome and Mylapore, officials have started exploring the feasibility of alternative routes for diverting traffic along many important roads, such as Santhome High Road.

According to ground reports, residents in areas where Metro Rail work had not been taken up had demanded new roads and bridges to improve connectivity. The residents want better connectivity between the Padi flyover and Thiruninravur. The demand has not been fulfilled and people have expressed their disappointment towards the government.

Migrants: With Chennai becoming one of the major IT and manufacturing hubs in the country, migration to the city has increased exponentially from all strata of educational and economic backgrounds. While there have not been any tensions when it comes to high-income jobs, some tensions have been reported in regard to blue-collar jobs. A nearly 2-lakh migrant population lives in 47 villages in Kancheepuram district including special economic zones and the period of migration ranges from 2 to 13 years.

Environmental Issues: According to ground reports, the Pallikaranai-Velachery marshland is one of the most pressing environmental concerns in the constituency. It is a designated Ramsar Site and a crucial wetland ecosystem that has been facing severe encroachment and shrinkage over the past few decades. Its size has dramatically decreased from 5,500 hectares in 1956 to a mere 550 hectares as of 2023. A significant portion of the marshland has been occupied by slums and residential buildings, leading to pollution of the waterbody. A large dump yard within the marshland, receiving approximately 2,000 tonnes of waste daily, further contributes to environmental degradation. Chennai has also witnessed a substantial increase in untenable slums between 2014 and 2018, with a 92% rise in the number of slums and a 74% increase in untenable households within those slums.

NEET Issue: According to state government data, 16 students have ended their lives due to the pressures caused by the NEET exams in the state. Residents in the state, and especially Chennai, which is one of the major educational hubs in the state, have come out in protests and have demanded the central government and the President exempt the state from NEET. The state government alleges that the single-window common test is violative of the principle of federalism, as it takes away the autonomy of states to make decisions regarding education. Constituents believe that NEET gives an undue advantage to those who can afford expensive coaching, thereby giving very little chance for those students from poor and rural backgrounds.

Dravidian Politics: The Dravidian parties, primarily DMK and AIADMK, continue to set the political narratives in the state holding major sway over voters. Dravidian politics is a movement and ideology that originated in Tamil Nadu, emphasising linguistic pride, social justice, secularism, and opposition to Brahmin dominance. It champions the rights of Dravidian languages and marginalised communities.

Voter Demographics (2011 census)

● Total voters (2019): 1973315

● Rural voters: 4%

● Urban voters: 96%

Social Demographics

● SC voters: 12.6%

● ST voters: 0.2%

Religious Demographics

● Hindu: ~83%

● Muslim: 8.6%

● Christian: 7.52%

● Jain: 0.95%

Infrastructure Development in Chennai

IT Parks: Chennai has seen the creation and expansion of major IT Parks across the city. Some of the notable ones are;

• One SEZ – Phase 2 (Shriram The Gateway)
• G Square Zamin Pallavaram:
• Olympia Technology Park
• Ascendas IT Park (International Tech Park Chennai – ITPC)

This has attracted top talent and major multinationals to the city, which in turn has raised the standard of living and the cost of real estate.

Vande Bharat: The Vande Bharat, launched by the central government, has provided greater connectivity to regions across Tamil Nadu to Chennai. There are two Vande Bharats running between Chennai and Mysusu, which has cut down travel time and has also led to upgraded connectivity of Tamil Nadu South and Tamil Nadu West with Chennai.

Airport Expansion: The Chennai International Airport is undergoing a significant expansion to accommodate the rising number of air travellers, driven by factors like increased migration and improved living standards. As part of the Phase 2 development of Terminal 2 (T2), a new terminal is being constructed to enhance passenger handling capacity and improve the overall travel experience.

The integrated terminal will expand to a total area of 197,000 square metres, providing more space for passenger movement and amenities. The annual passenger handling capacity will increase from the current 25 million to 35 million, ensuring smooth operations and reduced congestion. The expansion will include new boarding gates, baggage handling systems, and other infrastructure upgrades to streamline airport operations and enhance efficiency.

Overbridges: Construction of the South Usman Road flyover connecting Anna Salai with T Nagar is expected to be completed by December 2024. The two-lane bridge will be 1,200 m long and 8.4 m wide. It is being constructed at a cost of Rs 1.3 crore and work on the project is progressing fast. In addition, the Greater Chennai Corporation has taken up a slew of bridge projects across the city from 2021 to 2023. Work has begun on 10 of the projects; six projects will be inaugurated by the end of this year. The corporation has completed the major portion of Elephant Gate and is awaiting completion of work by Southern Railway. Further, road work is in progress in the corporation portion. Another project to be completed in the next few months will be the reconstruction of the bridge across Otteri Nullah in Aspiran Garden Second Street in Ward 98.

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